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3R Group is proud to support a great community initiative like Tunutunu, which uses the lure of sizzling sausages and chops to sell an anti-violence message in Flaxmere.
A community initiative to use the lure of sizzling sausages and chops to sell an anti-violence message in Flaxmere is being backed by Hawke’s Bay lines company Unison.
Unison is funding a custom-built mobile barbecue, which will tour Flaxmere and the Hastings District to spread the anti-violence message, Unison Chief Executive Ken Sutherland says.
The Unison Te Aranga Marae Community BBQ trailer has two barbeques enclosed in a stainless steel body and it will be branded with anti violence messages and an 0800 help line number.
Staff at Hastings-based Unison helped develop ideas for the unit, named Tunutunu (Mäori for grilling), and the lines company has provided sponsorship to cover construction and running costs for two years.
Mr Sutherland said that the sponsorship was part of the lines company’s desire to make a positive difference to the community it serves by working closely with Flaxmere’s Te Aranga Marae.
“Te Aranga Marae’s idea of bringing people together to spread a non-violence message in a social setting is an exciting idea, which we are proud to help make a reality.”
“The idea of getting neighbours together to build a stronger community is one we strongly support. As our business is based near Flaxmere, we see this sponsorship as an opportunity for us to get together with our neighbours to help each other out. Tunutunu also provides us with an ideal platform to promote our key electricity safety messages”” Mr Sutherland says.
Tunutunu was one of the ideas that flowed out of last year’s ‘Enough is Enough Hikoi’ from Flaxmere to Hastings to protest against a spate of gang violence in the district.
Hastings District Councillor Henare O’Keefe, whose son-in-law was brutally attacked while his daughter hid the couple’s eight-week-old baby, led the hikoi and is the driving force behind the barbeque.
“It’s a major step forward. We’ve moved from protesting against violence to getting out and doing something positive in the community,” Cr O’Keefe says.
Cr O’Keefe says Tunutunu would be used on selected weekends to reach families who faced violence issues, and youth out on the streets in the early hours.
“We will park it up in a street or someone’s back yard light up the barbeque and get out the guitars to create a non threatening environment where families and young people can hear the anti-violence message,” Cr O’Keefe says.
“We will operate it once or twice a month, or as the need arises. We’ll also use it at community events,” Cr O’Keefe says.
A mail drop would let people know when Tunutunu was visiting their area, Cr O’Keefe says.
Tunutunu will be operated by Te Aranga Marae and staffed by volunteers including Hawke’s Bay MPs, mayors and social workers, Cr O’Keefe says.
Media opportunity
Tunutunu will be formally handed over at a ceremony at Te Aranga Marae, 18 Boston Crescent, Flaxmere on Tuesday, with a powhiri at 10am followed by the first firing up of the barbeques at 11.30am. The media are welcome to attend. As part of the ceremony Te Aranga Marae will formally adopt Unison as part of its whanau.
About Unison
Unison Networks Limited, which is proudly owned by the Hawke’s Bay Power Consumers’ Trust, is one the country’s electricity businesses supplying more than 100,000 customers connected to networks in Hawke’s Bay, Taupo and Rotorua
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Media contact: John King 027 610 88 96 |
